Railway-traffic-controlling apparatus



Feb. 10, 1931. L. EJSPRAY 1,791,851

RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 18, 1929 INVENTOR 1 Patented Feb. 10, 1931 UNITED STA TEs PATENT caries LESTER n. SPRAY, on wrnxinsnune, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIGnon T O' THE n'nion SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, or SWISS-VALE, PENNSYLVANIA,- A conronarron OF PENNSYLVANIA RAILWAY-snarero-oon'raotmne ArPAnAT s Application filedOtober is, 1929. Serial No. 400,555.?

My invention relates to railway traflie controlling apparatus, and particularly to apparatus for controlling traffic governing devices, such as railway trackswitches, by levers which are grouped togethei i'n a central location such as an interlocking tower.

One feature of my invention is the provision of means for at times controlling in multiple, by current from'a normal source, an electric lock and an indication meansassociated with each of these levers, 'and for at times controlling the electric lock only by current from an emergency source.

I will describe one form of apparatus em bodying my invention, and will then pointout the novel features thereof in claims.

The accompanying drawing is adiagrammatic view showing one form of railway traffic controlling apparatus embodying my invention.

R-eferring to the/drawing, the reference characters 1, 1, 1", 1, 1 and 1 designate the track rails of tracks X, Yand Z, respectively, in a railway switching or-Linterlockmg plant. By means of a switch F track X'is connected with a siding. By means of switch FE track X is connected with a crossover which is, in turn, connected with track Y by means of switch F Tracks Y and Z are similarly interconnected by switches'F? and F and an intervening crossover track.

By means of insulated joints 2, a section A-B is insulated from adjoining portions of track X. Also, by means of other insulated joints 2, two sections C-D andD-E are insulated from each other and from adjacent portions of track Y. A section GH is similarly insulated from'adjacent portions of track Z by means of other insulated joints 2. Each of these sections is supplied. with current by a track transformer 3, connected across the rails adjacent one end of thesection, and is provided with a track relay designated by the reference character R'with a distinguishing exponent and connected across the rails adjacent. the opposite end of the section. The primary winding of each transformer 3 is constantly supplied with current by wires a; and '0 from a source not shown in the drawing.

The operation of switch F is: controlled by a manually operable lever V the operation of switches F and F is controlled by a manually operable lever V and the operation of switches F 'and F is controlled by a manually operable lever V Each of these levers'has a normal position 01, a normal track reverse position 9". Each of these levers op-' era'tes four contacts, 7 8, 9 and 10. Each contact 7 is closed'while its lever is in its r or t or any intermedlate position; each con tact 8 is closed while its lever is in the a or f or any intermediate position; each contact 9 is closed while its leveris 1n its 6 position. 1

only; and each contact 10"is closed while its lever is in the d position only.

nets designated-by the referencecharacterL with distinguishing exponents. Each mag- .for each of thesemagnets is down against its segment 6.

W th the levers 1n the a position, as shown in the drawing,

one of these levers is moved towards its 7 position, each ofits segments 5 and 6 is I segments 5 and'6 are held toward the right by their levers. When any 7 I The manual operation of each of these levers is controlled by two electric lock mag its segment 6 continues de-energized, a stop eleven contacts;

54, with which segment 6 is provided, engages its dog 1 when the lever reaches the (Z position. Further movement of the lever toward-thewpositionis now-prevented untilthe magnet associated with segment 6" be1- comes energized. The movement of each lever from its 7" positlon toward its a position may be'similarly arrested at positions tand Z).

Indicators, here shown as electric lamps e and 6 are associatedv with,levers..V

V and V respectively. These indicators inform the leverman when the levers can.be movedfrom their a or 7 positions past the "or t positions, respectively.

Asymmetric units designated N and N respectively, permit current to flow inone direction only through-lamps e and-the magnets L. i

A power-otf 'rela y, designated by, the letter TV, is constantly energized'by. current from wires ac and 0 except in the event of a failureofthe source:WhiChsupplies current to wires 2 ando.

Magnets L and indicator lamps .e' are normally supplied with current 'from a rectifier T which is constantly connected to wires w and 0. In case of a failure of the normal source which suppliescurrent' to wires w and o, magnets L but not lamps 6 can beenergized by current from an emergency source here'shown as abattery Q. Selection between rectifier" T- and battery Q iseffected by relay VVin-conjunction with amanually operable device here shownlasaimastr lever V Master lever V has a normal positionn and areverse positionr. Leverw/ operates Of these, contacts 11, 39, 36,

32, 28 and25 are closed when l-evertV 'is in its 11 position,.and'contacts 52, L5, 4?,49'31161150' are closed when lever V is in its 4 position;-

Rectifier-T, ashere shown, comprisesasymmetric units N N N and N Each of these unitsand units N, N and N may be similar to those described and cl aime'd in Letters Patent or" the United States, No. 1,640,335, granted to L. O. Grondahl, August A polarized switch indicationzrel'ay K is so controlled by switch]? as to be'energized in a normal direction'when' switch F flis in its normalposition, and to'be energized in the reverse direction when-switch F is in its reverse'position. Asimilar polarized switch indication relay K is energizedin'thernormal direction-whenswitches F and F .are in their normal-"position, and is energizedin the'reve'rsedirection when these. switches are in their reverse position. Relay K i similarly. controlled by switches F andF Q Circuits for controlling the different switches by levers V V and V respectively,

and the circuits for control-ling relaysK wire 30 to unit N K and K by these switches are well known and form no part of-my present invention, and are hence omitted from the drawing.

Having thus described, in general, the arrangement and locationof thevarious parts comprising my invention, I will now trace the operation of the apparatus.

As shown in the drawing, all parts are in their normalcondition, that is, each switch- F isin'its-normal-position for traffic moves along the main tracks X, YandZ'only; each track. section is unoccupied; each lever V is in its a position; and relay WV is energized by current. from wires w and 0. The track sections being unoccupied, relays R R R and R? are energized. 7

Under these conditions, magnet L is energized by its circuit passing from rectifier T, through contact 11 of lever V contact 12 of relay 1V, wire 16, contact 17 of relay R wires 20 and'21, contact 8 of lever V winding of magnet L asymmetric unit N ,wire 24, contact o'f lever V, and wire 26 back to rectil'ier T. Lamp 0 is lighted by current flowing from rectifier T over the path just traced as far as wire 20, thence through wire 27,

contact 28 of lever Vflwire 29, lamp e and Magnet L is energized by its circuit which includes thecircuit already traced formagnet L as far as contact 17 of relay R thence through contact 18 of relay R wire 19, contact8 of lever V winding, of magnet L asymmetric-junit NZ and wire 22 to wire 24:. Lainp-e 'islighted by current flowing in the circuit just traced for magnet L except passingffrom contact '18 of relay R lever V Wifre 33',- lamp e andwire 34to unit N Magnet-11 1s energized by its-circuit which passes from rectifier T',.through con} tact 11a of levenv contact 12 of relay l/V, contact 13 of relayflRflcontact 1 1 of relay of magnet L asymmetric unit N3, wires 23,

22 and 24, contact 25' of. lever V and wire lighted by 26 backto rectifier T. Lamp 6 is current flowing 111 a circuit which follows the path justtrac-ed' for the circuit for'magnet L as far as contact14 of relay Rflthence through wire 35, contact 36 of: lever V wire then moved to its reverse position, causing through wire 31', contact 32 of R wire- 15, contact-78' of: lever V winding:

(Z position by endog. Vith lever V 'in its (1- closed, and switch F is- 54, and the leverman then continues the operation of lever V to its 1' position.

I will also assume that when the train has passed out of the siding and on through section AB,the leverman starts to return lever V to its normal position, but finds that the source which supplies current to wires w and 0 has failed, and that hence relay IV is deenergized. Magnet L has a second circuit which is exactly similar to the circuit al-. ready traced for magnet L except that it ineludes contact 7 instead of contact 8 of lever V With relay NV (ls-energized, this circuit is open at contact 12 of relay IV, and hence the movement of lever V is arrested at its t position by engagement of stop 54 of segment 6 withdog 4 of magnet L On account of contact 12 of relay W being open, lamp 6 is unlighted. I

In order to return lever V to its normal position, the normal source of power having failed, the leverman moves lever V to its 1- position. Magnet: L is now energized by a third circuit passing from battery Q, through contact 44 of relay W, Wires 46 and 48, contact 49 of lever V", wires 27 and 21, contact 7 of lever V winding of magnet L unit N wire 24, and contact of lever V back to battery Q. The circuit for lamp 6 is open at contact 28 of lever V and hence lamp 6 continues unlighted. The leverman now continues the movement of lever V to its 1) position at which its further movement is arrested by stop 53 of'segment 5 engaging its dog 4. With lever V in its 6 position, the normal operating cir- V cuit for switch F returns switch F to its in their normal condition as previously described, except with relay R de-energized, the leverman attempts to again reverse switch F Since relay R is ole-energized, the circuit first traced for magnet L is open at contact 17 of relay R and hence magnet L is de-energized. Lever V is therefore arrested at its'position f by stop 53 engaging dog 4.

If now the lever'man-attempts to release lever V by means of leverVflhe cannot do so, since the emergency circuit for magnet L Which is exactly similar to the third circuit previously traced for magnet L 'except that it includes contact Sinstead'of contact 7 of lever V is open at contact 44 of relay From the foregoing examplesof operation of the apparatus, it follows that before emergency source Q can 'supplycurren't to any partof the apparatus, relay W must be deenergized and lever V must be moved to its a" position. The lighting'circuit'foreach lamp e comprises a contact which is operated by lever V and which is closed when lever V is in its n position only. This contact is opened when lever V is moved to its 1" position, and hence emergency battery Q cannot at any time supply-current to any of the lamps e.

I will not assume that with-allparts again in their normal condition as previouslydes'cribed, wire 22 between unit N and unit N becomes disconnected or broken. If now a train enters section A-B, opening the circuit first traced for magnet L by dropping contact 17 of'relay R current could be supplied to magnet L through lamps e and e -in multiple with'magnets L and L respectively, if asymmetric unit N were not present.

The circuit by which this could be done would pass from rectifier T, through contact 11 of "lever-V contact 12 of relay W, contact 13'of relay R contact 14 of relay R, wire 15,

contact f lever V winding of magnet L asymmetric unit N wire 23, winding of magnet L contact 8 of lever V wire 19, contact 18 of'relay R wires 20 and 21, contact 8. of lever V winding of magnet L unit N wire 24, contact 25 of lever V and wire 26 back to rectifier T. This circuitvwould have a branch path around magnet L through lamp asalready traced, and would have a second branch path around magnet L throughlamp e as already traced. lVIagnets L L and L might thus be sufficiently energized to attract or retain their dogs 4 away from their stops 53, whereas, with unit N in the circuit, as shown in the drawing, magnets L L and L would all be de-energized in the event of a break in wire 22 and the de-energization o relay R c I will next assume that, through anerror, wire 26 has been connected to terminal 55 of rectifier T, and that terminal 56 of rectifier T is connected with contacts 11 and 39 of lever V instead of as shown in the drawing. If, at

'itivere not forunit N magnet Lt could be energized although relay B were de-energized. The circuit for this would pass from terminal 55 of rectifier T, throughwire .26,

contact 25 of lever V wire 24, winding of lnael e ,-eel fle fint eve v hsancl g ound a di t u cewh n aidma a y op r bl e kltate i nelfifi o r ti e device is in its normal position, means conrpm the g i'oregoinlgdescription ,and the trolled by said manually operable'device-for accompanyingdrawingit is clear that my invent on,,prov des uneans for controll ng 1n mult ple from anormal source a lock and an supplying-said secondcontrol circuit with currentfrom said second source when said manuallyoperable device isin its reverse po:

indication means associated with a lever for sition, means controlled by either said first controlling a railwaytrafiic governing device, and for controlling onlygthe lock from an emergency source when the normal source ,fails; It is clearthat my invention alsoprovides means for protectingagainst false oper- .or said second control circuit for controlling said lever, and an indicationmeans controlled .by said first. control circuit ,but not by said second control circuit,

4. In combmation, amanually operable .ation of the look by current of reverse polarity ,lever'for controlling a railway track; switch, from the normal source.

Although I have hereinshown and describedonly one form of railway traffic controlling apparatus embodying my invention,

a control circuit, a second control circuit, a source of current, a second sourceofcurrent, a manually operable device having a normal and a reverse position, means controlled by it is understoo that var h nge and said manually operable devicefor supplying modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing fronrthe-spiritand scope of. my in vention.

Having thus describedmy nvention, what I cla m 1s: 7

1. In combination, .a manually operable leverfor controlling a railway track switch,

an electric lock, means controlled by said electric] lock for preventing operation of said lever .when said electric =loclris dc-energized,

an indication means, a second manually operable lever ha ving a normal and a reverseposition, a source of current,a second source of current, means controlled by said second. lever for energizing both said electric lock and said indication means by currentfrom sa d first source ,whensaid second lever is in its normal position, andjmeans controlled by said second said indication meansvbyr current from said secondsource when saidsecond lever is in its reverse position.

2. In combination, a 1nanually ,operable lever for controlling'a railway track switch,

an electric lock, means controlled by said elecetric loclcfor preventing operation of said lever-when said electric lock is (le -energized, an

; trolled by said relay'for transmitting energy from said second source to said electric look but" not to said indication means when said first source fails.

ln combinatlon, a manually operable dever for controllinga railway trackswitch,

a control circuit, asecond contr ol circuit, a source ofcurrent, a second source of current, a manually operable device ,having a normal and areverseposition, means controlled by saidmanu ally operable device for supplying said first control circuit with current from said first control circuit :with current from able device is in 'its norn al position, means controlled by said manually operable device for supplying said second control circuit with current from said second source when said manually operable deyice is in its reverse position, means controlled by either said first or said second circuit for controlling said lever,an indicationmeans controlled by said first control circuit, and means controlled by said manually operable device for-preventing said second control circuit from controlling said indication means. i

5...I'n combination, a manually operable lever for controlling a railway. track switch,

an'indication means, a manually operable dcy.

vice having a normal and a reverse position, .means controlledrby saiddevice for controlev r f r energizing said electric lock but not said lever and said indication means a second source of current, means controlled by said relay for controlling saidlever and ,said indication means by currentlrom said first source, and means;controlled bysaid relay for controlling said lever but, not said vindication means by current from said second sourcewhen said first, source has failed: I

7 In combination, a manually operable lever "for controlling a railway track switch, an electric lock,-means controlled by saidelectrio lock for preventing operation of said leiver when said electric lock is die-energized, an indication means, a source of current, a second source of current, a manually operable 'de'v1ce,means controlled by said devicefor at itirnes energizing said electric lockfand said indication means inmultiple by current from said first; source, j neans' controlled y QSaid device for at times energizing said electric look by current from said second source, and means controlled by said device for preventingcurrent from said second source from reaching said indication means.

8. In combination, a manually operable lever for controlling a railway track switch, an electric lock, means controlled by said electric lock for preventing operation of said lever when said electric lock is de-energized, an indication means, a source of current, a relay energized by current from said source, a manually operable master lever having a normal contact which is closed when said master lever is in a normal position and a reverse contact which is closed when said master lever is in a reverse position, a control circuit for said electric lock and said indication means including said normal contact and a front contact of said relay and supplied with current from said source, a second source of current, and a second control circuit for said electric lock including said reverse contact and a back contact of said relay and supplied with current from said second source.

9. In combination, control means for a railway track switch, an indication means, a source of alternating current, a source of direct current, a manually operable device, means controlled by said device for at times controlling said control means and said indication means by current from said alternating current source, and means controlled by said device for at times controlling said control means but not said indication means by current from said direct current source.

10. In combination, a plurality of man ually operable levers for controlling the operation of a plurality of railway track switches, an indication means for each of said levers, a source of current, a second source of current, a manually operable device, means controlled by said device for at times controlling the operation of each of said levers and its indication means by current from said first source, and means controlled by said device for at times controlling each of said levers but not its indication means by current from said second source.

11. In combination, a plurality of control means for a plurality of railway track switches, a manually operable device, means controlled by said device for energizing each of said control means by current of normal polarity from a common source, and means comprising asymmetric units for preventing current of reverse polarity from reaching any of said control means.

12. In combination, a plurality of man ually operable levers each of which controls the operation of one of a plurality of railway track switches respectively, a manually operable device, means controlled by said device for controlling the operation of each of said levers by current of normal polarity from a common source, an asymmetric unit for each ot said levers, and means comprislng each 0t said asymmetric units for preventing current 

